The Blood Empress’s words stirred Zhang Ruochen deeply, leaving him momentarily at a loss for words.
He believed there was genuine affection between her and Emperor Ming—otherwise, he wouldn’t exist.
Even so, accepting her now was still immensely difficult.
If Emperor Ming were here, perhaps Zhang Ruochen wouldn’t be so troubled.
Feeling low, he said, “I’m tired. You should go.”
The Blood Empress could sense his resistance had softened, a promising start.
“Chen’er, rest well. If you need anything, just tell me,” she said gently.
To maintain a positive impression, she didn’t linger, turning to leave promptly.
Bonds take time to build. Having waited 800 years, she wasn’t impatient now.
“You okay?” Mu Lingxi asked softly once the Blood Empress was gone.
She could see Zhang Ruochen’s emotions had been turbulent, a rare occurrence for someone usually so composed.
The matters of his past life’s body and Emperor Ming had hit him hard, weighing heavily on his mind.
Zhang Ruochen exhaled deeply, a faint smile appearing. “I’m fine. Don’t worry, I’m not that fragile. As long as Father’s alive, I’ll find him.”
Finding Emperor Ming might unravel his many questions.
Relieved, Mu Lingxi had feared he’d push himself too far, risking harm.
In the following days, the Blood Empress continued her routine, visiting several times daily with heavenly saint pills, epochal saint herbs, and other treasures, as if eager to give Zhang Ruochen everything.
Though less cold, Zhang Ruochen showed no warmth, rejecting all her gifts.
After another failed attempt to offer beast emperor meat, the Blood Empress left his room, encountering Kong Lanyou in the garden.
“Lanyou, keep your aunt company for a chat,” she said warmly.
Kong Lanyou hesitated but nodded, not refusing.
They sat in a pavilion, and perhaps because she hadn’t spoken freely in ages, the Blood Empress talked at length, reminiscing about her time at Peacock Manor.
She wasn’t heartless. Years at the manor had fostered attachments.
But 800 years later, Peacock Manor had changed, its familiar faces gone, leaving only Kong Lanyou to stir her care.
For Kong Lanyou, feelings toward the Blood Empress were complex. For 800 years, she’d mourned her “aunt” at the royal tomb, only to learn she was the infamous Blood Empress, a revelation that left her reflective.
“Lanyou, the second gradient holds many mysteries. From my explorations, there’s likely an opportunity here for you to reforge your immortal saint body,” the Blood Empress said suddenly.
Kong Lanyou’s expression shifted. “Is there really such a chance?”
Her priorities were Zhang Ruochen and reforging her immortal saint body, a task she knew was daunting without extraordinary fortune.
“There is, but it’s not easy to seize and comes with dangers,” the Blood Empress nodded.
Her confirmation sent a jolt through Kong Lanyou, her heart racing despite 800 years of cultivation.
Her eyes gleamed. “If there’s such a chance, I’ll try, no matter the risk.”
The Blood Empress nodded approvingly. “The danger is significant—you might perish, body and soul. But success could let you forge a top-tier immortal saint body, gaining divine potential. Think it over, no rush.”
Leaving those words, she rose and drifted away.
Alone in the pavilion, Kong Lanyou pondered deeply.
At Falling God Gorge, one of the second gradient’s most mysterious sites, Zhang Ruochen stood outside, his gaze fixed on a figure seated within.
It was Chi Kunlun.
Though the Blood Empress said Chi Kunlun didn’t want to see him, Zhang Ruochen needed to see him to be at ease.
The gorge was treacherous, its spatial forces wild, filled with rifts and occasional storms, too dangerous even for Great Saints.
Chi Kunlun sat at the gorge’s center, a spot that seemed perilous but was the safest.
“Chen’er, rest assured, Kunlun is safe here. The gorge’s active spatial rules greatly aid his comprehension of the Spatial Path. Plus, there are spatial blood crystals here. If he obtains one, his Spatial Path will advance, and his True God Body will further awaken,” the Blood Empress said.
Zhang Ruochen nodded. “Let him cultivate here. I hope when he emerges, he can stand on his own.”
With Chi Kunlun’s True God Body and Spatial Controller status, Zhang Ruochen held high hopes.
After lingering outside the gorge, he turned to leave.
Seeing this, the Blood Empress quietly exhaled in relief.
The “Chi Kunlun” in the gorge wasn’t real, but a fake crafted from a spatial blood crystal.
With the real Chi Kunlun held by the Yanluo Clan figure, she’d had to improvise when Zhang Ruochen insisted on seeing him.
She appeared instantly in the cave housing Zhang Ruochen’s past life’s body.
“Back so soon?” the Blood Demon remarked.
Her expression serious, she said, “Blood Demon, your strength has nearly recovered. I need your help with something.”
“What could make you ask for my aid? Tell me,” he said, intrigued.
“Help me deal with a Yanluo Clan junior and rescue my grandson from him,” she said.
“A Yanluo Clan junior? Worth my effort?” the Blood Demon said, unimpressed.
“You’ll find him interesting once you meet him,” she replied coolly.
Turning to Qiu Yichi, she said, “You’ll lead. Take the Blood Demon and Yan Liren. Yan Wushen is unmatched in combat, but his heart may have flaws. Take this Mind-Capturing Pearl for contingencies.”
“Ensure Chi Kunlun is brought back safely, no mistakes.”
Qiu Yichi took the pearl, nodding solemnly. “Rest assured, Master, I’ll bring him back.”
“Go, and return quickly,” the Blood Empress said.
The Blood Demon grinned. “Someone you value? Won’t disappoint me. I’ll help, and stretch my legs.”
He followed Qiu Yichi out of the cave.
Watching them leave, the Blood Empress murmured, “I hope it goes smoothly.”
Next time Zhang Ruochen wanted to see Chi Kunlun, she hoped to present the real one, not a fake.
Ten days passed.
Zhang Ruochen felt his physique had reached saturation. Without breaking into the Heaven-Connecting Realm, he couldn’t absorb more of the second gradient’s unique energy.
He, Mu Lingxi, and Kong Lanyou had explored the second gradient but found little, unable to access its deepest secrets.
“Time to leave,” Zhang Ruochen muttered, ending his cultivation.
When he shared his plan, Mu Lingxi agreed, ready to follow him anywhere.
Kong Lanyou hesitated. “Cousin, I plan to stay. Aunt says there’s a chance here to reforge my immortal saint body. It’s important to me.”
“You trust her?” Zhang Ruochen asked seriously.
“I believe she wouldn’t lie,” Kong Lanyou said.
Though uncertain, she couldn’t pass up this opportunity.
“Need my help?” Zhang Ruochen offered.
She shook her head. “No, I can handle it. I’m not the little girl who relied on you. Eight hundred years ago, as a Great Saint, I could’ve stood equal with Qing Emperor and Emperor Ming.”
Zhang Ruochen smiled. “I believe you’ll succeed. Be careful. I’ll visit when I can.”
He could see the Blood Empress meant no harm.
Kong Lanyou nodded. “Mm.”
Without needing to help Zhang Ruochen more, she wouldn’t have chosen to part now.
After bidding her farewell, Zhang Ruochen and Mu Lingxi used spatial teleportation to leave the peak’s palace, then soared toward the second gradient’s exit at top speed.
